March 21, 2012

California's Public Universities Add New Buildings They Can't Afford To Run

In all, $2 billion worth of brand-new facilities are in the planning, design, or construction stages at UCSD. The broader University of California system has more than 200 building projects under way at its 10 campuses and five medical centers, together valued at $8.9 billion. All of these new buildings seem an odd contradiction in a state that has cut billions of dollars in operating money from its public universities, which have responded by reducing enrollment, dramatically increasing tuition and laying off employees. And since there’s not enough money to operate them once they’re finished, they’re further stretching maintenance and energy budgets. At least one new campus building is sitting virtually empty and unused because the university can’t afford to run it. Read more at:http://californiawatch.org/higher-ed/public-universities-plow-ahead-construction-despite-tight-budgets-15273